TARIQ MAHMOOD FROM STEVENAGE SENTENCED TO TEN YEARS FOR TAXI RAPE IN HELLISH CRIME

In a harrowing case that has shocked the community of Stevenage, Tariq Mahmood, a 48-year-old taxi driver from Archer Road, was sentenced to a decade behind bars for a despicable sexual assault committed against a teenage girl. The sentencing took place at Luton Crown Court, where Judge Richard Foster condemned Mahmood’s actions as a “despicable offence” that has left a lasting scar on the victim’s life.

Mahmood was convicted in February after a jury deliberated and found him guilty of attacking the young girl in October 2009. The incident occurred after Mahmood had picked her up from Stevenage Leisure Park, ostensibly to take her home. However, the journey took a sinister turn when Mahmood stopped the taxi in Ripon Road and subjected the girl to a sexual assault. The court heard that the girl, who was under the influence of alcohol at the time, was vulnerable and trusting, which Mahmood exploited for his own malicious purposes.

Judge Foster addressed the court and the defendant directly, emphasizing the importance of safety and trust in taxi services. He stated, “Any sensible parent would tell their daughter, particularly when they have been drinking, not to walk home, or wait at bus stops or accept a lift from people they don’t know, but to use a taxi because it will be safe.” The judge pointed out that taxis are licensed to ensure passenger safety and that Mahmood, in his position of trust, had a duty to protect rather than harm.

He further explained that Mahmood’s actions were especially egregious given the victim’s vulnerable state. “She was obviously drunk, and that would have been abundantly clear to you, so you also took advantage of a vulnerable young girl,” Judge Foster said. The assault, which occurred during the journey, has had profound and lasting effects on the victim’s life. The court was shown her impact statement, which vividly described the trauma she endured, and a statement from her mother, highlighting the difficult period she is going through.

The court also considered Mahmood’s plea of not guilty, which forced the victim to give evidence in front of a jury—a process that added to her trauma. As part of his sentence, Mahmood is required to register as a sex offender for life. Additionally, he is subject to an indefinite ban from having a lone female passenger in his vehicle and from being alone with an intoxicated female, measures designed to prevent any future harm.

The case has left a deep scar on the community of Stevenage, raising questions about safety and trust in local taxi services. Mahmood’s actions and subsequent sentencing serve as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and the need for strict regulation to protect vulnerable individuals from predators hiding behind positions of trust.